The worst moment following Ireland

[OwlsFan]

Let's ignore Saipan here. I'm talking about on the field of play.

Gelsenkirchen 1988. We in an enclave of green surrounded by a sea of orange. It's the first time at a major championship after waiting for years. The Dutch (one of their best teams ever) have been repelled and all their subs have been used. They are getting frantic. A semi-final in Euro 88 is only minutes away. McGrath heads clear yet again but the balls is crossed to the head of Wim Kieft. Bonner appears to have the ball covered. However the spin on the ball resulted in a freak bounce past Bonner and into the back of the Irish net. Irish calls of off-side for Van Basten (which video replays clearly showed to be the case) were ignored.

There were more tears shed by any set of Irish fans that day than I've ever seen shed since as those there were the original of the species, the ones who had been through the dark days of Touhy, Giles and Hand and who for 81 minutes had glimpsed nervana.

There was no singing of "always look on the bright side of life that day" I can tell you. I had to wait until McAteer's goal in 2001 for revenge and that was sweet.

[Hibs4Ever]

I didn't handle losing to Belgium in the play off a few years back very well. Think more so because I knew Belgium were sh*t and proved it in the tournament

[speedking]

I'm too young to remember Euro 88 which I'm sure was a real sickner, losing any match in that manner would severely **** anyone off.

Personally the match in Macedonia where they scored in the last minute which caused Ireland to be knocked off the top of the table into the playoff spot (I think). Which we then lost. :(

[Dawn_Run]

Top three worst moments IMO (in no particular order):

Hartes penalty miss during the Spanish match in 2002
The whole Donadoni - Bonner could only parry - Schillaci saga
The Belgium playoff

[tetsujin1979]

Whatever about Macedonia away (twice), Israel, Austria in the Euro '96 qualifiers, losing to Croatia away in '99 was a real kicker, I still don't know where all the extra time came from.

[Stuttgart88]

Gelsenkirchen & Macedonia away (particularly the second one).

Belgium in '81 was unbearable!

Last Saturday was up there too, esp as it reminded me so much of Macedonia. I was lucky not to have seen the Austria game in '95. I think I missed both of them actually.

[Junior]

For games I was at.......

1) Macedonia Away 1-1 , 90th minute equaliser. From automatic qualification for Euro 2000 to the US Nike Tournament in a split second - never felt as gutted at an Ireland match ever.

2) Croatia Away 1-0, Davor Suker 95th Minute winner was a sickener - luckily we were heading back to Malta which softened the blow... a little.

3) Romania Away 1-0 France 98 Qualifier, Played reasonably well that night, Roy missed a peno at 0-0. Could have been a great away result.

Games I wasn't at.....

Holland Euro88 - I was a young impressionable Kid
Italy WC90 - See above.
Israel on Saturday!!

[TheJamaicanP.M.]

Great post OwlsFan.

For me, I would look at the games in Gelsenkirchen in 1988 and Rome in 1990 with pride. I was able to accept those results as we had achieved so much. However, I find it more difficult to accept bad results against poor opposition. This is my top 5 list of lows as an Irish fan (excluding Saipan obviously).

1. Liechtenstein away 1995
2. Macedonia away 1997
3. Portugal away 1995
4. Austria home 1995
5. Switzerland home 2002

The reason I have not included Croatia away and Macedonia away (1999) is because I still felt positive about qualifying for the European Championships, even though we conceded injury-time goals in both.
As an Irish fan, there were a lot of lows between 1995 and 1999, the rare highlights being our home victories over Croatia and Yugoslavia.

[elroy]

I think for me it has to be the Spain game, purely because we had them on the ropes and shouldve finished them off.
Up there too would be Croatia/Macedonia/Belgium and prob one of the biggest let down was in 94 when we played Holland, the country was quite confient of a win(mainly cos we beat them in a friendly a few months previous) but we got played off the park.

[lopez]

No contest: Macedonia away, 1999.

[OwlsFan]

Portugal away 3-0 was the most miserable. Almost got crushed to death trying to get into the stadium. It lashed rain for most of the game and there was no cover. The second half was a disaster. We couldn't find our bus and had to walk into town in the lashing rain. Some of my mates were on a day trip and had no change of clothes and had to get on the plane soaking wet. Only good point. Norn Iron had beaten Austria 5-3 that night so we got a play off place. A miserable night tough.

Romania 1-0 was a great performance. We outplayed then and David Connolly had a stormer (believe it or not). Saipan missed a peno that night - has he ever taken another one even for Man U ? I remember coming back and watching a video of the game and the outrageous attacks Dumpy, Giles and Laughing Bill had made on Big Mick before the game - that sickened me as Laughing Bill tried to pass the comments off as "obective criticism" when people phoned in to complain.

I suppose the most disappointing performance was Switzerland 2-0 away and the worst competitive game ever was Iceland at home 0-0,

[Dotsy]

I was gutted by the Holland defeat in 88 and the Italian defeat in 1990 but even though we performed well in both matches the results were fair enough and I believe we were beaten by better teams. The loss to Spain in 2002 was the worst for me as I thought we were the better team and really felt we could have gone on to progress much further if we had won.

One of the saddest moments for me was when Liam Brady was sent off against Bulgaria in the last game of the Euro 88 qualifiers (which meant he would miss the first two of our games in the finals) and then through an combination of the ban and injury he didn't get to play in the finals at all. It was a terrible blow for our greatest play ever IMO. I've always felt that if he had played we could have done better in that final game against Holland.

[stickyjoe]

macadonia 99

cant see anything ever comparing to it

[Peadar]

Turkey in the play-off
1-1 at home 0-0 away, gutted!

[ollie]

1.macedonia
2.kilbane missing rebound to harte's penalty vs Spain.
3.harte missing penalty in same game

[Tipp Townie]

Sooo many near misses come to mind, but Macedonia 99 has been mentioned a few times already, and that was definitely one of the worst. I was marooned in South Wales at the time so the chances of seeing the game were nil, and it wasnt even live on the radio. So i had to make do with vague and infrequent updates via teletext or BBC radio. I knew all the permutations- particularly the scenario that if Croatia won and we drew we were out (i think). So deep into injury time my mates thought it would be funny to tell me that they'd heard exactly that had happened. Virtually in tears, i ran back upstairs to check teletext... to see that Macedonia had indeed equalised. Gutted. On seeing what had really happened, my mates decided to make a quick exit.

For me what made it worse (watching highlights later) was that the Macedonians celebrated as if they'd won the feckin Cup.

Otherwise, all the usuals, cried as a young lad italy 90, cried as an older lad holland 94 (esp as we were so bad that day), drank myself into oblivion belgium 97. Spain 02 i could cope with coz we'd given it everything and i was too exhausted to cry, although i probably didnt speak for a few days.

But i consider myself pretty lucky to have grown up knowing us to qualify for at least some tournaments. God knows what the constant failures must have felt like- i was too young to remember Belgium 81, but i've read about it. Was anyone there??

[Cowboy]

Macedonia away and belgium especially with all those muppets singing OLé Olé and telling me to cheer up.

Hands up I'm a bad loser

[ciaran76]

1)For me it was Hartes penalty miss against Spain in WC2002.
2)Euro 88 against Holland
3)Macedonia away.


The 3 worst moments for me. :(

[Baker]

Cant think of anything that tops Macedoia away in 99, 13 seconds left ffs!
Never felt so depressed in my whole life and drank myself stupid.

Notable mentions though must go to:

Holland in USA'94, felt really confident and had gotten some great results in the period leading up to the World Cup. Before the game everyone was saying how great its going to be to play Brazil in the quarters on Independence Day!

Following that would have to be Turkey in the Euro 2000 play-offs. The TV rights werent sold to any Irish TV station/SKY etc and couldnt find a pub showing the away leg so was huddled around a radio with crap reception trying to figure out what was actually happening. After some great results in the qualifying group and two games lost deep in injury time it was a sickening way to go out.

Spain 2002 and Basel 2003 then.

Remember being gutted about the way the Holland game in 88 finished but was too young to realise just how big a deal it was.

[Closed Account 2]

1) That floating Macedonian cross in the last minute

2) Holland, 1994. The bloody Dutch again! Bonner's fist... Why was McGrath's goal not allowed ?!?!?

3) Belgian play off, they were cráp, we should have won, we should have been at France 98.

4) Turkish play off, we should have put them away in the first leg, they got that lucky penalty. The second leg was poor, and UEFA should have done something about Cascarino getting lynched at the end.

5) Swiss at home. A very poor result for us, coming after a fairly decent show at the world cup, after that it was bye bye Portugal '04.

[OwlsFan]

1) That floating Macedonian cross in the last minute

2) Holland, 1994. The bloody Dutch again! Bonner's fist... Why was McGrath's goal not allowed ?!?!?.

We weren't at the races that day. McGrath's goal was disallowed for foot up.


3) Belgian play off, they were cráp, we should have won, we should have been at France 98 .

Belgium had dominated the first game and we were blessed to get a 1-1 but were very unlucky in the 2nd leg. A throw given to them which should have been ours and they score. Mick cried in the tunnel after that match.


4) Turkish play off, we should have put them away in the first leg, they got that lucky penalty. The second leg was poor, and UEFA should have done something about Cascarino getting lynched at the end.

Yes, stupid peno. Carsley ?? Only heard the 2nd leg on radio but we never created anything apparently.


5) Swiss at home. A very poor result for us, coming after a fairly decent show at the world cup, after that it was bye bye Portugal '04.

Saddest part of that game was the way Mick was run out of town with the chants of "Keano" ringing in his ears. The fact that some of the crowd chanted "Ireland" in response has always been ignored but to be fair, no one chanted "Mick"

[Junior]

1)
4) Turkish play off, we should have put them away in the first leg, they got that lucky penalty. The second leg was poor, and UEFA should have done something about Cascarino getting lynched at the end.




Cas was up for it when he came on in that game - stuck the nut on their central defender at the corner when he came on.

Who was suspended for that game Robbie? silling booking in the first leg if I recall. Connolly up front, we didn't have a hope.

About 30 paddies staring in to our beers in the hotel that night the only Irish in Turkey I think!! The Turks were beeping their horns and banging their drums to the very early hours - they know how to celebrate I'll give them that!

[Paulie]

About 30 paddies staring in to our beers in the hotel that night the only Irish in Turkey I think!! The Turks were beeping their horns and banging their drums to the very early hours - they know how to celebrate I'll give them that!

Belgium, Macedonia, Switzerland, Spain - take your pick. Regarding the above, It's happened on me twice (Belgium and Switzerland) that I've gone abroad to see Ireland play in deciding games only for us to be knocked out. When the opposition fans begin to celebrate, as they are perfectly entitled to, you really want to be be anywhere but there.....not a nice feeling.

[Shae_B2D]

Against Spain in that last world cup. I'm working for the Sports desk of the Israeli television, so I basically had to watch all the games every day, edit the recaps of the games to our broadcasts of the matches, as well for the daily special wrapup and news broadcasts. I was basically half dead after the game had finished, was screaming and upset, and I had to go into editting room with that tape and see it over and over again...

Since I'm an abroad fan, didn't get to do a lot of ACTUAL following, but I'm a girl, I take things very emotionally anyway, even from far away. :)

[beautifulrock]

Holland 88 and didnt feel great after the Dutch game in 94.

[FarBeag]

For me.. losing to Croatia away in '99..real sickner and also the Belgium playoff..still gives me the shivers.

[djdaz]

Don't know if ayone mentioned it but Lichtenstein away has to be up there, just for the pure embarrassment.
In the big matches it's Spain in 2002 for me aswell.

[Superhoops]

Poznan 1991, went 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1 up against Poland and were leading comfortably with 15 minutes to go. We were then pegged back to 3-3, the equaliser coming 4 minutes from the end. It cost us a place in 1992 Euro finals.

[lopez]

Poznan 1991, went 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1 up against Poland and were leading comfortably with 15 minutes to go. We were then pegged back to 3-3, the equaliser coming 4 minutes from the end. It cost us a place in 1992 Euro finals.The Turkey game of 1991 was worse seeing that the Tans equalised against Poland with 15 minutes or so to go. I was in work the following evening - f*cking knackered after a long flight - and was waiting to wind people up with any ABBA song I could think of. Still, only had to wait two more years :D for the winding up bit.

[Superhoops]

The Turkey game of 1991 was worse seeing that the Tans equalised against Poland with 15 minutes or so to go.Even though we won easily that night I dont think anyone really expected that Engerland would not get at least a point against Poland. We blew it in Poznan and we know that night that we had to depend on Poland doing us a favour.

[Ashbourne]

Jesus, the home qualifier at lansdowne road (for usa94) v. spain in october 1993 was depressing. What a build up to the game the previous week, with Ireland having the chance to qualify for a world cup directly at home for the first time ever........and as we all know what a damp squib it turned out to be. Talk about being steamrolled!
That John Sheridan goal to bring it back to 1-3, so insignificant at the moment he stuck it away, was SO crucial in the end.
As for that world cup 2nd round game in 2002...........robbed.


Ashbourne.
Definitely a case of ball to hand, rather than hand to ball.

[nlgbbbblth]

1) Losing 1-0 to Belguim in 1981 - that ******* referee
2) Wim Kieft for Holland at Euro 88 - sickener
3) SKOPJE

[davey]

1) Spain 02. Losing on pennos is awful. The worst feeling after.
2) Kieft 88 - The longest 2nd half of my life and to lose to that spazzy goal
3) Macedonia 99 - Too much to take after Croatia

[pineapple stu]

England-Poland in '91 is another that I don't think has been mentioned. We were beating Turkey away and I think the English scored late on (either Lineker or Shearer)? Bit hazy now, but I think Chris Woods in the England goal rugby tackled some lad but no peno was given, which would have put us through? My first experience of not qualifying (first game of football I ever watched - which I don't really remember watching any more - was Ireland 1-0 England! :) ), so gets a mention for that too...

[pineapple stu]

2) Holland, 1994. The bloody Dutch again! Bonner's fist... Why was McGrath's goal not allowed ?!?!?
Foot up as Owls fan mentioned, but I always thought it was very harsh - Rijkaard's head was low as well...as much him heading McGrath's boot as the other way around!

[Stuttgart88]

Bit hazy now, but I think Chris Woods in the England goal rugby tackled some lad but no peno was given, which would have put us through?

That's exactly right. Poland were 1-0 up at the time. Absolute slam dunk penalty. Unbelievable decision.

Losing 4-1 at home to Denmark was a real low point. Around 1985 I think. Last game pre-Jack?

I left thinking we'd never have any respectability in the game.

[Junior]

Belgium, Macedonia, Switzerland, Spain - take your pick. Regarding the above, It's happened on me twice (Belgium and Switzerland) that I've gone abroad to see Ireland play in deciding games only for us to be knocked out. When the opposition fans begin to celebrate, as they are perfectly entitled to, you really want to be be anywhere but there.....not a nice feeling.

Agree. But Belgium fans celebrate? surely not - Pretty boring fans IMO even though they'd just qualified for France.

[Stuttgart88]

0-0 at home to Norway around '85 was grim too. I think we'd got off to a good start by beating Russia 1-0 at home but we went off the rails after that.

This was a really dire game played in awful weather even though it was in June. If we'd won we really would have had a chance of qualification but we blew it big time. Match was only notable for the strip we wore for the only time - green shirt with an orange hoop across the chest, Kerry GAA-style.

[Eire06]

Holland '94 was bad..

The worst I ever got over a match was against Spain '02 world cup.. I actually cryed was in bits.... Don't cry often but that broke my heart :( was depressed for weeks

[Cowboy]

Losing 4-1 at home to Denmark was a real low point. Around 1985 I think. Last game pre-Jack?

I left thinking we'd never have any respectability in the game.

Yeah forgot about that one, we had a decent team out that day too

[Cowboy]

Holland '94 was bad..

The worst I ever got over a match was against Spain '02 world cup.. I actually cryed was in bits.... Don't cry often but that broke my heart :( was depressed for weeks

Me and three mates just stood on the stadium shell shocked till well after everyone else had gone. Discovered later that BBC held the camera on us for ages, glad i've never seen that tape.

[gspain]

Skopje 1999 was the worst for me. Dreadful day when it looked like we'd be on a runway in Rimini while the game was being played but just made it by kickoff but really for the abject performance and the late goal. They were a poor side missing 9 players and we threw away qualification.

Other notables - Roy Keane as sweeper to hold mighty Iceland 0-0 at Lansdowne in 96. Norway 0-0 in 85. Losing at home to austria in 95 just after the debacle in Liechtenstein.

Israel away will be up there too. Playing Poland off the park for 75 minutes leading 3-1 and then gifting them 2 goals in 91 was a bad one too that ultimately cost us a trip to Sweden.

On the football field I don't think we disgraced ourselves at any of the major finals. Could have done better and empty feelings particularly 94 but Holland twice, Italy and Spain are major footballing sides.

[Eire06]

Me and three mates just stood on the stadium shell shocked till well after everyone else had gone. Discovered later that BBC held the camera on us for ages, glad i've never seen that tape.

Think I remember that, it made me worse...

[lopez]

Losing 4-1 at home to Denmark was a real low point. Around 1985 I think. Last game pre-Jack?Normally I'd agree with you on this one. But I had met a nice young Danish fan on the ferry the night before and so my mind was largely taken off the match, both before and after, if not exactly through it.

[pineapple stu]

Losing 4-1 at home to Denmark was a real low point. Around 1985 I think. Last game pre-Jack?
Think that's correct - last game under Hand. They'd hammered us in Denmark too - 3-1 or so? Denmark had enver done anything internationally up to that point either (though they were just coming good in the mid-80s)

[lopez]

Think that's correct - last game under Hand. They'd hammered us in Denmark too - 3-1 or so? Denmark had enver done anything internationally up to that point either (though they were just coming good in the mid-80s)They were semi-finalists at the 1984 European Championships.

[pineapple stu]

They were semi-finalists at the 1984 European Championships.
Really?! Thought the 86 World Cup was their first major finals tournament. Learn something new every day!

[lopez]

Really?! Thought the 86 World Cup was their first major finals tournament. Learn something new every day!Lost to Spain on penalties.

[gspain]

Really?! Thought the 86 World Cup was their first major finals tournament. Learn something new every day!

The Senor is of course correct that the Danes were semi finalists in EC84 and quite strong when they stuffed us H&A i nthe 86 qualifiers. We blew a 3-1 lead in Copenhagen in 78 when they had just turned professional.

BTW they also reached the 1964 EC semi finals losing to the Soviets in spain I think.

I think 86 was their first world cup but I'm not 100% sure. Need to check the records if I get time.

[OwlsFan]

Yeah forgot about that one, we had a decent team out that day too

Team we had out that day was:

Ireland: McDonagh (Wichita Wings), Moran (Manchester Utd.), Beglin (Liverpool), Lawrenson (Liverpool), O'Leary (Arsenal), Brady (Inter Milan), McGrath (Manchester Utd.), Grealish (W.B.A.), Cascarino (Gillingham), Stapleton (Manchester Utd.), Sheedy (Everton). Subs: P. Byrne (Shamrock Rovers) for Grealish, Robinson (Q.P.R.) for Sheedy

It wasn't a bad team even though we had 4 centre halves playing - McDonagh must be the only Irish player capped playing for Wichita Wings!!